VIETNAM VETERAN: lifeboat from the “Jeparit”.

Pic: Boat - Low Head pilot station museum.

This type of aluminium lifeboat was developed during the Vietnam War when the Australian Navy was experimenting with various materials. It did not perform well in the water and today there are very few still in existence due to the corrosion it suffered.

Pic: Ship – “Jeparit” – Royal Australian Navy website.

 Between 1967 and 1972, sailing under both merchant and naval ensigns, “Jeparit” made 43 voyages in support of Australian operations in Vietnam, steaming over 410,000 miles during that time and carrying some 175,000 deadweight tons of cargo including such varied items as canteen stores, ammunition and stores for civil aid.